Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-10-01


himself, Alphonse went off, still cursing, to
recover his temper, a process which knew
from experience would take q very long
time When he had gone, l gave Umslo-
pogaas a jobation, and told him that / was
ashamed of his behavior.
"Ah, well, Macumazahn,n he said, "you
must be gentle with me, for here is not my
place. / am weary of it-weary to death of
eating and drinking, of sleeping and giving
in marriage. / love not this soft life in stone
houses that takes the heart out of a man, and
turns his strength to water and his flesh to fat.
/ love not the white robes and the delicate
women, the blowing of trumpets and the
flying of hawks. When we fought the Nasal
at the lraal yonder ah, then life was worth
the living; but here is never blow struck in
anger, and begin to think l shall go the
way of my fathers and lift Inkosi-kaas no
more" and he held up the ak and gazed at
it in sorrow.
"Ah," l said, "that is thy complaint, is it"
Thou hast the blood sickness, hast thoul and
the Woodpecker wants tree. And at thy
age, too. Shame on thee, Umslopogaas"
GAY, Macumazahn, mine is a red trade, yet
it is better and more honest than some. Bet
ter is it to slay man in fair fight than to
suck out his hearts blood in buying and sell
ing and usury, after your white fashion.
Many q man have slain, yet is there never
q one that should fear to look in the face
again; ay, many are they who once were
friends, and whom should be right glad to
snuff with. But there! therel thou hast thy
ways, and mine, each to his own people and
his own place. The high veldt OK will die in
the fat bush country, and so it is with me,
Macumazahn. I am rough, l. know it, and
when my blood is warm know not what to
do. but yet wilt thou be sorry when the night
swallows me and / am utterly lost in the
blackness; for in thy heart thou lowest noe.
my father, Macumazahn the fox, though I
be but broken down Zulu wardog-a chief
for whom there is no room in his own kraal,
an outcast and O wanderer in strange places;
ay, love thee, Macumazahn, for we have
grown gray together, and there IS that be-
tween us that cannot be seen, and yet is too
strong for breaking;;" and he took his snuff
box, which was made of an old brass cart
ridge, from the slit in his ear, where he always
carried it, and handed 1t to me for me to
help myself.
took the pinch of snuff with some emotion.
1t was quite true was much attached to the
bloodthirsty old ruf1ian. don't know what
was the charm of his character, but it had
charm; perhaps it was its fierce honesty and
directness; perhaps one admired his almost
superhuman skill and strength, or it may
have been simply that he was SO absolutely
unique. Frankly, with all my experience
of savages, never knew a man quite like
him, he was so wise, and yet such a child
with it all; and though 1T seems laughable to
say so, like the hero Of the Yankee parody,
he "had tender heart" Anyway, was
very fond of him, though / should never
have thought of telling him so.
"Ay, old WOLF" said, shine is strange
love. Thou wouldst split me to the chin If
stood in thy path tomorrow"
"Thou speakest truth, Macumazahn; that
would If it came in the way of duty, but
should love thee all the same when the blow
had gone fairly home. Is there any chance
of some fighting here, Macumazahnp he
went on, in an insinuating voice. "Methought
that what saw last night did show that the
two great queens were vexed one with an
other, else had the Lady of the Night not
brought that dagger with her."
Iagreed with him that it showed that more
or less pique and irritation existed between
the ladies, and told him how things stood, and
that they were quarreling over Incubu.
"Ah, is it 500" he exclaimed, springing w
in delights; "then will there be war as surely
as the rivers rise in the rains-war to the end
Women love the last blow as well as the last
word, and when they fight for love they are
pitiless as a wounded buffalo. See thou
Macumazahn woman will swim through
blood to her desire, and think naught of it.
With these eyes have / seen 1t once, and twice
also. All, Macumazahn, we shall see this fine
place of houses burning yet, and hear the bat
tie cries come ringing up the street. After
all, have not wandered for nothing. Can
this folk fight, think yea"
Just then Sir Henry joined us, and Good
arrived, too, from another direction, looking
very pale and hollow eyed. The moment
Umslopogaas saw the latter he stopped his
bloodthirsty talk and greeted him.
"Ah, Bougwan," he cried, greeting to
thee, Inkoos, thou art surely weary. Didst
thou hunt too much yesterday Then, with
out waiting for an answer, he went on:
"Listen, Bougwan, and 1 will tell thee a
story; it is about a woman, therefore wilt
thou hear it; is it not 500
"There was man, and he had brother,
and there was a woman who loved the mans
brother, and was beloved of the man. The
mans brother had favorite wife, and loved
not UQ6 WOIIlln, utiu lildue a iuoCh VI utT.
Then the woman, being very cunning and
fierce hearted for revenge, took counsel with
herself, and said to the man, l love thee, and
if thou wilt make war upon thy brother /
will marry thee And he knew it was lie,
yet because of his great love of the woman
who was very fair, did he listen to her words
and made war. And when many people had
been killed his brother sent to him, Saying
why slayest thou met What hurt have
done unto theel From my youth up have l
not loved theea When thou vast little did
not nurture thee, and have we not gone down
to war together and divided the cattle, girl
by girl, OK by OK, and COW by COVE Why
slayest thou me, my brother, son of my own
motherP
"Then the mans heart was heavy, and he
knew that his path was evil; and he put
aside the tempting woman, and ceased to
make war on his brother, and lived at peace
l., +la eo,,,a Eroal with him And altar a